Halloween is just around the corner and we can’t wait to see all the creative costumes that people will be wearing. Whether you’re creating your own costume masterpieces for you and your kids, or buying one off the shelf, you’ll want to take great pics to share with friends and family. We’ve rounded up easy tips that can set you up to succeed.
When we were at the #Blogher15 Conference earlier this year in New York, we met some amazing lifestyle and mommy bloggers. We wanted to see their tips for taking pictures, so we combed through their blogs and created this list of 5 tips that can help you take memorable Halloween photos. For more in-depth information on taking great photos any time of year, check out Mom*Tog and Clickin Moms. Both sites offer easy to understand tutorials for taking the pictures you care about most.
5 Tips from Blogging Moms to Capture Great Halloween Photos
Photo enthusiasts know there are so many ways to take awesome photos, but for the rest of us we just point, shoot, and hope for something good. One common theme we found on all the sites is to let the kids be themselves. Don’t force the picture, have patience and you’ll be amazed at what you can capture. To be ready for those magical moments, these five tips will help you take pics on your smartphone or camera that you want to share.
- Lighting is Always Important: It’s one of the first things you learn about when it comes to taking pictures, and that’s because it can make all the difference in the world. According to a post from Snap Happy Mom, since natural lighting is more flattering, the best time to snap Halloween costume photos is outside during the late afternoon. Ideally, you’d want the pictures to be done before the sun starts to set.
- Follow the Rule of Thirds: This is one of those tricks that can turn a potential picture from drab to fab in just a few minutes. According to a post from CEO of the House, “The rule teaches you to place your subject on one of the grid intersections while evaluating the background and foreground at the same time.” Not sure how to do this on your smartphone? There are apps you can download for both an iPhone and Android. iPhone users can easily turn on the feature by selecting Photos & Camera in Settings and then scroll down and turn on Grid.
- Chat while Snapping Pics: If you’ve got a photo-shy kid, try having some fun with them while taking their picture. “Instead of ‘Say Cheese!’ try ‘What was your favorite part of today?’” suggests Jana Seitzer in a MerlotMommy post. “Get them talking and wait for those expressions that you know and love. If you create natural interaction you’ll get natural expressions.”
- Increase the Shutter Speed on your Camera: Kids typically don’t like to stay still, especially when there’s the lure of all that Halloween candy. In this scenario, a slow shutter isn’t your friend. In a SheKnows post by Christina Caldwell, she suggests increasing the shutter speed. “Increasing the shutter speed on your digital camera literally increases the speed at which the shutter snaps. The faster it snaps, the faster the image is captured. The faster the image is captured, the less likely you’ll get a blur of children running about the house and the more likely you’ll get that perfect photo of them hugging the cat.”
- Take the Picture Outside: During this time of year, the changing leaves and decorated homes create a great backdrop for photos. A tip from a Little Tech Girl post is all about getting outside. “Dirty walls, worn furniture, or just stuff sitting around is not something that you want in the background… Natural lighting is always better anyway, so move outside for a better backdrop.”
Edit, Save, and Share Your Halloween Photos with RealTimes
Now that you’ve taken some great photos you can easily share them using the RealTimes app. RealTimes will also automatically turn your photos and video clips into RealTimes Stories, video collages set to music, that make sharing more fun. If you’ve turned on the auto-backup feature and taken them on your phone, your photos are already accessible in the RealTimes app. Simply login to your RealTimes account to check them out, edit them, view your Stories, and share with family and friends.
Got any great tips for taking Halloween photos? Let us know in the comments.
